grace that would make them wise unto
salvation, patient, forbearing, quick to
perceive and appreciate heavenly minis-
trations, quick to discern Satan's devices,
and strong to resist sin. God can not do
his mighty work for them because of their
unbelief.
Christ has promised the gift of the Spirit
to his church, and the promise belongs
to us as much as to the first disciples.
But like every other promise, it is given
on conditions. There are many who
believe, and profess to claim the Lord's
promise; they talk about Christ and about
the Holy Spirit, yet receive no benefit. They
do not surrender the soul to be guided
and controlled by the divine agencies. We
can not use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is
to use us. Through the Spirit God works
in his people "to will and to do of his good
pleasure." But many will not submit to
this. They want to manage themselves.
This is why they do not receive the
heavenly gift. Only to those who wait hum-
bly upon God, who watch for his guidance
and grace, is the Spirit given.
Christ declared that the divine influence
was to be with his followers to the end.
But the promise is not accepted and
believed by God's people; therefore its ful-
filment is not seen. The promise of the
Spirit is a matter little thought of; and the
result is only what might be expected,—
spiritual drought, spiritual weakness,
spiritual declension and death. Minor mat-
ters occupy the attention, and the divine
power that is necessary for the growth and
prosperity of the church, and which would
bring all other blessings in its train, is lack-
ing, though offered in its infinite plen-
titude.
Just so long as the church is satisfied
with small things will it fail of receiving
the great things of God. Why do we not
hunger and thirst after the gift of the Spirit,
since this is the means by which we are
to receive power? Talk of it, pray for it,
preach concerning it. The Lord is more
willing to give the Holy Spirit to us than
parents are to give good gifts to their chil-
dren.
If our workers realized the responsibility
resting upon them, would they enter the
work without cherishing a deep sense of
its sacredness? Should we not see the
deep movings of the Spirit of God upon
the men who present themselves for the
ministry? For the baptism of the Holy
Spirit, every worker should be offering his
prayer to God. Companies should be
gathered together to ask for special help,
for heavenly wisdom, that they may know
how to devise and execute. Especially
should men pray that God will baptize his
missionaries with the Holy Spirit.
There is no limit to the usefulness of
one who, putting aside self, makes room
for the working of the Holy Spirit upon
his heart, and lives a life wholly conse-
crated to God. If men will endure the
necessary discipline, without complaining
or fainting by the way, God will teach them
hour by hour, and day by day. He longs
to reveal his grace. If his people will
remove the obstructions, he will pou r forth
the waters of salvation in abundant
streams through human channels. If men
in humble life were encouraged to do all
the good they could do, if restraining
hands were not laid upon them to repress
the zeal, there would be one hundred
workers for Christ where now there is one.
God takes men as they are, and
educates them for his service, if they will
yield themselves to him. The Spirit of God,
received into the soul, will quicken all its
faculties. Under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, the mind that is devoted unreser-
vedly to God develops harmoniously, and
is strengthened to comprehend and fulfil
the requirements of God. The weak, vacil-
lating character becomes changed to one
of strength and steadfastness. Continual
devotion establishes so close a relation
between Jesus and his disciples that the
Christian becomes like him in mind and
character. Through a connection with
Christ he will have clearer and broader
views. His discernment will be more pene-
trative, his judgment better balanced.
The presence of the Holy Spirit with
God's workers will give the presentation
of truth a power that not all the honor
or glory of the world could give. The Spirit
furnishes the strength that sustains striv-
ing, wrestling souls in every emergency,
amid the unfriendliness of relatives, the
hatred of the world, and the realization
of their own imperfections and mistakes.
A union of divine and human endeavor,
a close connection first, last, and ever,
with God, the source of all strength.—this
is absolutely necessary in our work.—
Review and Herald,
May 19, 1904.
52